86 Chapter 86: The 3rd Draw

"Is it because of my identity as a pirate that he don't wanna see me?"

Hancock, taken aback by the reply, couldn't believe it. Her charm rarely failed. At sea, countless people yielded to her due to the allure of her Devil Fruit.

Frankly, there weren't many in these waters who could rival her beauty.

"Leave immediately, or we will arrest you! Here, no one cares about your Shichibukai status!"

Sadi-chan, the woman facing Hancock, was one of the few immune to her charm. While she generally found both men and women susceptible (as long as she activated her ability), Sadi-chan remained unaffected.

Right now, Sadi-chan felt a surge of newfound authority. Previously, while they had to abide by certain rules when a Shichibukai appeared in Impel Down, they typically maintained a more respectful demeanor.

It was important to remember that a Shichibukai, though a legalized pirate, was still a pirate. Yet, in the original story, when Hancock arrived, Magellan, the highest-ranking officer of Impel Down, came out to greet her. This wouldn't happen at Marine Headquarters; there, a Vice Admiral would handle such matters at most.

This stark difference highlighted the initial helplessness of Impel Down. Quite sad, really.

This held true for Magellan, let alone Sadi-chan. Empowered by the implicit backing of a formidable leader, Sadi-chan felt confident in his defiance. If anyone dared to cause trouble or force their way in, they'd end up as prisoners themselves.

"Sister!"

Hancock's younger sisters watched her with growing concern. They could only hope she wouldn't escalate the situation. While they hadn't spoken much before, they now faced the terrifying prospect of one person single-handedly crushing the entire Marine force.

People with charisma exceeding Hancock's would likely be less affected. They clearly didn't want Hancock to cause a major incident. After all, capturing the Pirate Empress would have disastrous consequences.

"Needless to say, turn back!"

Hancock's expression was a complex mix of emotions. Pride warred with reason, and she understood the potential repercussions of her actions. The fact that they didn't even have a high-ranking official greet her spoke volumes.

With that realization, she conceded defeat and departed Impel Down immediately.

"Such a shame she left. It would've been interesting to see her cause more trouble and get captured. I'm quite curious about this Pirate Empress," Sadi-chan remarked, her words sending shivers down the spines of the nearby guards.

As a warden of Impel Down, Sadi-chan's beauty and charm were undeniable. However, beneath that attractive facade lay a "super S" personality. New recruits, unaware of this side of her, often made advances, only to be swiftly corrected with the sting of her whip.

These guards knew better than anyone the kind of person it took to tame such a queen – it certainly wasn't them.

"Warden, it seems we have another ship approaching!"

News of another incoming vessel arrived swiftly.

"Again? Any identification?"

Sadi-chan was taken aback. The audacity of someone arriving at this time was outrageous.

"It's Bartholomew Kuma, the Tyrant Bear. He's returned."

The identity of the visitor was quickly confirmed, leaving Sadi-chan baffled. What could possibly motivate these Shichibukai? Was Kuma here for the same reason as Hancock – to witness the treatment of the Celestial Dragons?

Hancock didn't leave immediately either, choosing to wait and hear the intentions of the other party. The idea of someone fighting in Impel Down was laughable; very few dared to cause trouble within these walls.

As for the Tyrant Bear, if he intended to make a move, he would have done so earlier. Why wait until now?

***

Meanwhile, Luo Ning dispatched two clones to retrieve Nami and Robin. After delivering them safely to Sky Island, Luo Ning deactivated the clones without keeping them active.

The only remaining clone resided in Cocoyashi Village.

Even now, Luo Ning hadn't deactivated that clone, opting for caution. While the Marines wouldn't likely repeat their offense, the incident had brought significant attention to Cocoyashi Village, deterring future threats.

However, for added security, Luo Ning maintained the clone. This clone remained hidden, and Luo Ning had withdrawn some of its fantastical abilities, rendering it powerless. Its sole purpose was to contact Luo Ning's main body if an emergency arose, at which point Luo Ning could enact illusions through it.

Unlike others who required physical contact to empower their creations, Luo Ning's clone, being his own creation, could receive enhancements from his power of fantasy regardless of distance.

After retrieving Nami and Robin, Luo Ning initiated the third lottery draw, confident he'd accumulated enough chances.

"This is incredibly fortuitous! This is exactly what I need!"

Luo Ning's excitement surged upon seeing the prize – a training ground.

The name is deceptively simple. This training ground serves as a space to hone combat experience, Luo Ning's biggest weakness.

Despite his near-invincible strength in this world, his combat experience is undeniably chaotic.

...

His situation mirrored that of Otsutsuki Kaguya in the Naruto world – victory through sheer power.

This training ground, however, offered a solution. It could create various enemies based on Luo Ning's specifications. He could choose powerful figures from his memories, or have the training ground generate opponents automatically.

But the most crucial aspect was that Luo Ning wasn't the only one who could utilize it. With his permission, others could enter the training ground as well. Time flowed differently within: one day outside equated to an entire year inside.

This was a dream come true for any battle maniac.

Of course, excessive training wasn't an option. It would devour the user's lifespan.

Luo Ning now held a small, virtual metal house in his hands. It could be placed anywhere and didn't require a large footprint. However, the internal space was truly infinite.

Conveniently, it could be deactivated and taken with him at any time. Additionally, no one could enter without Luo Ning's permission, and it was indestructible. This was undeniably an artifact.

After examining it, Luo Ning left his villa and placed the training ground directly beside it.

In its physical form, it appeared as a single, metallic structure, gleaming with a metallic sheen, resembling a small, entirely metal room.

Some nearby jailers observed this scene with curiosity, but none dared to approach casually. Luo Ning's reputation was formidable, and his past actions instilled immense fear. After all, he was their superior officer, and they wouldn't dream of overstepping their bounds.